The Gamecocks men's baseball team of the University of South Carolina has become prohibitive -275 CWS Odds favorites to win the 2011 College World Series after defeating the Florida Gators in the championship series opener at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., on Monday. With a win over Florida Tuesday (8:05 pm ET, ESPN), South Carolina will win the best of three games series and its second consecutive NCAA Men's Baseball Championship.
Florida faces a do-or-die scenario in Game 2. The Gators either win or watch the Gamecocks throw a massive pile-on celebration around the mound. Florida had better find a way to end South Carolina's 15-game CWS winning streak or catch a flight to Gainesville a day early. However, it's doubtful the Gators are ready to throw in the towel just yet.
For Tuesday's game, odds-makers at most offshore sports shops list the game as a CWS Odds PICK with a betting price of -115 on either side with a 8 1/2 run total (over/under). Florida backers wagering the Gators on the money-line at +1 1/2 will pay -200 while Gamecocks run-line bettors at -1 1/2 will be getting +160.
South Carolina coach Ray Tanner will go to his ace starter junior Michael Roth for Game-2. The Gamecocks ace left-hander is 13-3 on the year with a 0.98 ERA. All the pressure of keeping the Gators alive will fall to freshman starter Karsten Whitson (8-0, 2.43 ERA). Roth has seen CWS championship pressure and thrived under it. In last years championship series Roth shut down UCLA getting the win in a 2-1 South Carolina victory over UCLA. In the game he allowed one run on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Game-1 became an instant CWS Finals classic; South Carolina winning in 11 innings on an unearned run to be beat the Gators 2-1. In the 10th frame it appeared the Gators had the Gamecocks on the ropes with the bases loaded with no outs but USC pitcher John Taylor worked out of the jam.
